The Association for Culturally Appropriate Services (AfCAS) invites you to enjoy the depth and breadth of research and experience of our keynote speaker and the stories of our volunteer visitors and their communities.

Professor Loretta Baldassar is Vice Chancellor’s Professorial Research Fellow at Edith Cowan University (ECU) and one of Australia’s leading Social Scientists. An Internationally recognised leader in migration and diversity studies, Professor Baldassar leads the Social Ageing (SAGE) Futures Lab and the TRACS Migration Research Network at the School of Arts and Humanities at ECU. Professor Baldassar’s research focuses on social care and ageing across the life course, family and community relations, culture and linguistic diversity, transnational migration and mobility, and the role of new technologies in supporting wellbeing.

Professor Baldassar will present her latest project: Befriending with Genie: An intervention to reduce loneliness, and increase social support and service access for people living with dementia and caregivers from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) communities

Strong social networks and connections are essential to support older people to maintain their health and quality of life as they age, live independently for longer and access services when they need to. However, people with dementia and their caregivers from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) communities have unequal knowledge about, access to, and uptake of prevention activities that support their social connections. As a result, they are at increased risk of significant social isolation and increased risk of morbidity and mortality.

Our volunteer visitors and their communities will share their experiences of visiting isolated migrant seniors and the difference each visit makes.